VT KnowledgeWorks is pleased to announce the Game Changers Challenge, an opportunity for one entrepreneur or entrepreneurial team to qualify for a $25,000 “Running Start” loan plus a package of free startup assistance services. Solid runners-up may also qualify for free startup assistance.

Any aspiring entrepreneur or entrepreneurial team may enter by submitting an application by October 7, 2016. The challenge is open to all who meet the following criteria:

The product or service to be provided by the venture must either be consumed (not simply re-marketed) by another business, or be integrated into a more complex end-product for downstream sale.

The targeted buyers must constitute a relatively narrow demographic niche that can be addressed with limited resources.

The proposed product or service must powerfully address some widely acknowledged niche need.

High leverage must be obtained by the $25,000 (not just the first $25,000 out of a $1M needed for launch, for instance).

The entrepreneurial team must be able to fill the technology leadership roles in the proposed venture.

The team must be committed to locating business operations in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center.

Any intellectual property related to the enterprise must be appropriately owned or licensed by the enterprise.

Finalists will be selected by VT KnowledgeWorks staff, and will then be invited to make a 15-minute presentation to the Running Start Committee on their proposed new ventures. There will be no public events, nor will competing teams be allowed to attend each other’s presentations. In the absence of a solid applicant, no loan will be made. This is a qualifying process, not a contest.

Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the guidelines available on the VT KnowledgeWorks website www.vtknowledgeworks.com. The deadline for the fall 2016 application submissions is October 7, 2016. Applications should be submitted to [email protected]. The selection committee will review applications and VT KnowledgeWorks will communicate with applicants shortly thereafter. Awards will be announced in December.

For more information contact Jim Flowers, Executive Director of VT KnowledgeWorks, at 540-443-9100, extension 1 or at [email protected].

VT KnowledgeWorks encourages and enables creative entrepreneurship world-wide, through innovative curriculum, local business resource centers, and a global network of cooperating regions, all focused on three essential contributors to success: clear understanding of fundamental business principles, access to timely, relevant information, and meaningful personal and corporate relationships. It is a subsidiary of the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, supported by the continuing confidence and enthusiasm of its clients, sponsors and friends, both corporate and individual. Its world headquarters are in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.

VT KnowledgeWorks is pleased to announce the Game Changers Challenge, an opportunity for one entrepreneur or entrepreneurial team to qualify for a $25,000 “Running Start” loan plus a package of free startup assistance services. Solid runners-up may also qualify for free startup assistance.

Any aspiring entrepreneur or entrepreneurial team may enter by submitting an application by April 29, 2016. The challenge is open to all who meet the following criteria:

The product or service to be provided by the venture must either be consumed (not simply re-marketed) by another business, or be integrated into a more complex end-product for downstream sale.

The targeted buyers must constitute a relatively narrow demographic niche that can be addressed with limited resources.

The proposed product or service must powerfully address some widely acknowledged niche need.

High leverage must be obtained by the $25,000 (not just the first $25,000 out of a $1M needed for launch, for instance).

The entrepreneurial team must be able to fill the technology leadership roles in the proposed venture.

The team must be committed to locating business operations in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center.

Any intellectual property related to the enterprise must be appropriately owned or licensed by the enterprise.

Finalists will be selected by VT KnowledgeWorks staff, and will then be invited to make a 15-minute presentation to the Running Start Committee on their proposed new ventures. There will be no public events, nor will competing teams be allowed to attend each other’s presentations. In the absence of a solid applicant, no loan will be made. This is a qualifying process, not a contest.

Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the guidelines available on the VT KnowledgeWorks website www.vtknowledgeworks.com. The deadline for the spring 2016 application submissions is April 29, 2016. Applications should be submitted to [email protected]. The selection committee will review applications and VT KnowledgeWorks will communicate with applicants shortly thereafter. Awards will be announced in late May.

For more information contact Jim Flowers, Executive Director of VT KnowledgeWorks, at 540-443-9100, extension 1 or at [email protected].

VT KnowledgeWorks encourages and enables creative entrepreneurship world-wide, through innovative curriculum, local business resource centers, and a global network of cooperating regions, all focused on three essential contributors to success: clear understanding of fundamental business principles, access to timely, relevant information, and meaningful personal and corporate relationships. It is a subsidiary of the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, supported by the continuing confidence and enthusiasm of its clients, sponsors and friends, both corporate and individual. Its world headquarters are in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.

Global Challenge Virtual Preliminary, giving one student team from anywhere in the world $5,000 in air travel reimbursement for a chance to compete on a world stage at the Global Student Entrepreneurship Challenge

Innovation Challenge, providing $100,000 worth of mentorship and business support services to a winning team of Virginia Tech faculty, staff, students and/or alumni proposing to establish a new venture in Blacksburg, based on Virginia Tech-owned technology

Game Changers Challenge, an opportunity for one entrepreneur or entrepreneurial team to qualify for a $25,000 “Running Start” loan plus a package of free startup assistance services

The Entrepreneurship Option workshop, an interactive workshop to help one identify what it takes and what it means to be a true entrepreneur instead of an employee

Our generous 2016 VT KnowledgeWorks sponsors who make this all possible are:

VT KnowledgeWorks encourages and enables creative entrepreneurship world-wide, through innovative curriculum, local business resource centers, and a global network of cooperating regions, all focused on three essential contributors to success: clear understanding of fundamental business principles, access to timely, relevant information, and meaningful personal and corporate relationships. It is a subsidiary of the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, supported by the continuing confidence and enthusiasm of its clients, sponsors and friends, both corporate and individual. Its world headquarters are in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.

VT KnowledgeWorks is pleased to announce the Game Changers Challenge, an opportunity for one entrepreneur or entrepreneurial team to qualify for a $25,000 “Running Start” loan plus a package of free startup assistance services. Solid runners-up may also qualify for free startup assistance.

Any aspiring entrepreneur or entrepreneurial team may enter by submitting an application by October 12, 2015. The challenge is open to all who meet the following criteria:

The product or service to be provided by the venture must either be consumed (not simply re-marketed) by another business, or be integrated into a more complex end-product for downstream sale.

The targeted buyers must constitute a relatively narrow demographic niche that can be addressed with limited resources.

The proposed product or service must powerfully address some widely acknowledged niche need.

High leverage must be obtained by the $25,000 (not just the first $25,000 out of a $1M needed for launch, for instance).

The entrepreneurial team must be able to fill the technology leadership roles in the proposed venture.

The team must be committed to locating business operations in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center.

Any intellectual property related to the enterprise must be appropriately owned or licensed by the enterprise.

Finalists will be selected by VT KnowledgeWorks staff, and will then be invited to make a 15-minute presentation to the Running Start Committee on their proposed new ventures. There will be no public events, nor will competing teams be allowed to attend each other’s presentations. In the absence of a solid applicant, no loan will be made. This is a qualifying process, not a contest.

Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the guidelines available on the VT KnowledgeWorks website www.vtknowledgeworks.com. The deadline for the fall 2015 application submissions is October 12, 2015. Applications should be submitted to [email protected]. The selection committee will review applications and VT KnowledgeWorks will communicate with applicants shortly thereafter. Awards will be announced in mid-November.

For more information contact Jim Flowers, Executive Director of VT KnowledgeWorks, at 540-443-9100, extension 1 or at [email protected].

VT KnowledgeWorks encourages and enables creative entrepreneurship world-wide, through innovative curriculum, local business resource centers, and a global network of cooperating regions, all focused on three essential contributors to success: clear understanding of fundamental business principles; access to timely, relevant information; and meaningful personal and corporate relationships. It is a subsidiary of the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, supported by the continuing confidence and enthusiasm of its clients, sponsors and friends, both corporate and individual. Its world headquarters are in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.

VT KnowledgeWorks is pleased to announce the Game Changers Challenge, an opportunity for one entrepreneur or entrepreneurial team to qualify for a $25,000 “Running Start” loan plus a package of free startup assistance services. Solid runners-up may also qualify for free startup assistance.

Any aspiring entrepreneur or entrepreneurial team may enter. The challenge is open to all who meet the following criteria:

The product or service to be provided by the venture must either be consumed (not simply re-marketed) by another business, or be integrated into a more complex end-product for downstream sale.

The targeted buyers must constitute a relatively narrow demographic niche that can be addressed with limited resources.

The proposed product or service must powerfully address some widely acknowledged niche need.

High leverage must be obtained by the $25,000 (not just the first $25,000 out of a $1M needed for launch, for instance).

The entrepreneurial team must be able to fill the technology leadership roles in the proposed venture.

The team must be committed to locating business operations in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center.

Any intellectual property related to the enterprise must be appropriately owned or licensed by the enterprise.

Finalists will be selected by VT KnowledgeWorks staff, and will then be invited to make a 15-minute presentation to the Running Start Committee on their proposed new ventures. There will be no public events, nor will competing teams be allowed to attend each other’s presentations. In the absence of a solid applicant, no loan will be made. This is a qualifying process, not a contest.

Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the guidelines available on the VT KnowledgeWorks website www.vtknowledgeworks.com. The deadline for the spring 2015 application submissions is May 8, 2015. Applications should be submitted to [email protected]. The selection committee will review applications and VT KnowledgeWorks will communicate with applicants shortly thereafter. Awards will be announced in June.

For more information contact Jim Flowers, Executive Director of VT KnowledgeWorks, at 540-443-9100, extension 1 or at [email protected].

VT KnowledgeWorks encourages and enables creative entrepreneurship world-wide, through innovative curriculum, local business resource centers, and a global network of cooperating regions, all focused on three essential contributors to success: clear understanding of fundamental business principles; access to timely, relevant information; and meaningful personal and corporate relationships. It is a subsidiary of the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, supported by the continuing confidence and enthusiasm of its clients, sponsors and friends, both corporate and individual. Its world headquarters are in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.